This review has been one year in the making, and made possible by my trusty notes. Watched this last year (Feb. 2024), but y'know: procrastination. I apologize in advance, but to the best of my ability, in preparation for Brotherhood, here's my general thoughts on FMA 2003. Enjoy.
(a big reason for my note-taking habits was so I could (theoretically) give thought-out reviews without having to do a full rewatch).
SPOILERS THROUGHOUT
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Even though Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood gets all the recognition these days, I like chronology, so I decided to watch the original 2003 adaptation of FMA first. Knowing it deviates from the original manga (which Brotherhood is supposedly more faithful to), I still figured watching it would still give an "authentic" enough experience.
Following the journey of the Elrics trying to restore their bodies, along the way, you encounter deep secrets about Amestris, dangerously compelling villains (Scar being my favorite), reserved but impactful action (I always admired how feats of alchemy are used sparingly and not always spammed), and an intricate story that keeps you excited for the next episode. As the Elrics attempt a second human transmutation, except they truly won't survive if they fail this time.
FMA has smooth pacing at a hearty 51 episodes (seriously, you can do a lot with that number), and a great sense of moody atmosphere (like when Ed visits the war vet, as a standout scene). At best, you have the cliffhanger ending of episode 41, which heightens the tension to the point I felt like screaming inside! The way the scenes pause dramatically, Rose regaining her strength, the music, the suspense….I really love when shows go ham on making an episode’s ending seem like the apocalypse just started, and anyone could die at ANY second now.
Not afraid to tap into mature subject matter like religion, scientific experimentation, and the horrors of war, with the State Alchemist and Ishbal (Ishval?) conflict being a great center of nuance. With the alchemists, it's obvious how brutal and blindly unforgiving they are as not-so-subtle Nazi allegories, but even the Ishbalans aren't seen as fully innocent given Scar and his brother's heretical/morbid use of alchemy, as well as the Isbalans' prejudices (which gets thawed when they find the Elrics accept them). It's that kind of balanced, well-rounded character building that I love. Roy's PTSD was great characterization (you grow to respect his deep conscience, even if he doesn't show it often), and Izumi's dynamic with the boys as their second mother was sweet. Not to mention Lust's character arc seen throughout the whole series.
And from a visual standpoint, there's something about the imagery of Ed walking with a giant suit of armor with the voice of a 12-year old that sticks with you. The show delivers striking imagery like that in spades.
And let's not forget about the brighter spots like hanging out in Resembool, especially towards the end when all those characters meet up with the brothers, and the chemistry is high (love Winry and Sheska together). Legit wouldn't mind a slice-of-life spin-off or something.
That said, around eps. 42-46, I thought the story started swerving a bit, especially with the reveal of Dante being the big bad, and the convolution started creeping in (which is saying something, since despite all the plot points the show threw up to this point, it still felt tight). It felt the writers had to rush things more, leading to big moments that felt anticlimactic/didn't hit me as hard as they should've. One example could be wishing Roy and Winry got stronger closure.
Fortunately, the series sticks the landing in time for episode 51. Roy and King Bradley have an epic duel, Roy and Ed bury the hatchet in a great conversation scene before that, and ending with the Elrics performing successful human transmutations to save each other. At big costs of course, but life marches on as Edward finds the real reward of this journey was finding solace. (plus a satisfying as heck epilogue).
Also, from what little knowledge I know of Brotherhood/the manga, for 40ish episodes, I was under the impression that Hohenheim was the evil mastermind, but psyche, it's Dante. Hohenheim is surprisingly legit. I take it this is a key difference between this series and Brotherhood.
Overall, I went in expecting something ambitious and intricate. And by the end, that was what I got.
Everything that happens has some kind of price. How big, small, or medium-sized (in my case, ESPECIALLY medium-size) that price is varies of course, but it's somewhere out there.
This series was chalk-full of compelling as hell characters & arcs, reserved but effective action, scenes that leave you floored and even introspective, and concludes on an imperfect, yet appropriate, burning ending. Admittedly, story-wise it kinda fumbles around the last 10 episodes, but pulls itself back together with the last few having some of the best the series had to offer. As a solid conclusion as well as having dashes of vagueness to keep you thinking.
That said, a possibly hot take is that I really enjoyed the Conqueror of Shamballa movie, and lowkey prefer it as FMA's ending. It felt more complete, left less room for loose ends, and delivered great visuals to boot.
You can play by life’s rules, but that doesn’t mean life will be indebted to you. Of course, the end of the series still makes the point you should still live by Equivalent Exchange, but definitely not in the simple, uncomplicated childhood lesson the brothers lived up to this point. EE is a principle, and can still be helpful in guiding you through life, even if it's imperfect.
Song of the day: "Mono" by Fightstar (EP version)
Other miscellaneous notes:
-The "haha Ed is short!" thing got old, ngl.
-I can't forgive Lujon for being a cuck on his WEDDING day.
-you're telling me the guy dubbed the Fuhrer was an evil homunculus the whole time? Gee, ya don't say...
-Riza Hawkeye was pretty boring, ngl. Hopefully she gets characterized better in Brotherhood (I hear she and Roy's relationship is a bigger plot point).
-Gotta say, this has THE most stacked english dub cast I've seen so far. In terms of getting VAs from various corners of the dubbing world (Funimation regulars like Chris Sabat, ADV alum Tiffany Grant, Mike Sinterniklaas from NY, Troy Baker & Travis Willingham who'd go on to do other big roles outside of anime, a wild Johnny Yong Bosch appears (he's always a win), and even a Canadian, Scott McNeil! (which was the biggest and happiest shock, as someone who grew up with Ninjago)).
-I'll also always love how they got an actual kid to voice Alphonse. Adds a great layer of authenticity (fun fact: Aaron Dismuke will later grow up to voice Miyuki from Kaguya-sama).
-Terminator Archer, wtf? (on the one hand, it's goofy, but I still like it for the novelty).
-Alphonse kinda looks like the Iron Giant, and I find that cute.
See you in Brotherhood!
In conclusion: Sheska is best girl. Sorry not sorry Winry.
